Mayoral Candidates Debate Public Safety

Anthany Beatty, mayoral candidate, asks if you feel safe?  Police say they have every resource they need, but Beatty says last weekend’s violence proves otherwise.

Beatty and Mayor Gray both called press conferences Wednesday afternoon to discuss the violence.  We asked if they were using the violence for political gain.

"That’s a red herring.  The job of the Mayor, the job of our elected leadership like the vice-Mayor is to always put a focus, always put the highest priority on public safety, as our first core value," said Mayor Gray. 

Anthany Beatty says he called a press conference first, and the Mayor followed.

"I can’t answer for the Mayor.  I called a press conference first of all to respond to you (the media), the media requests about Rupp Arena, because I was indisposed last week, but secondly the pressing issue for me is and the job number one for the mayor of any city is to make sure it’s safe first," said Beatty.

He wants to add about 40% more police officers, and he wants them taking their cruisers home.  Beatty says this prevents crime. 

At the Mayor’s press conference, he stood in front of every public safety leader.

"Illustrating that with this leadership in our public safety community, coming together, what this is about today," said Gray.

"If I were the mayor I’d like to think that the folks I’d appointed for leadership positions would be there behind me supporting me.  Also, if I were the Mayor I don’t need them there behind me to support me," said Beatty.